Wednesday, September 8, 2010

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) review and a long weekend

Hello :)

I haven't been able to write for the past few days because I've been busy. I had a great long weekend, Saturday I went to see my cousin's new baby girl, she was so beautiful! Sunday my friends and I celebrated our friend's 21st birthday and it was a blast! We took him to his favorite wings restaurant then we hung out at one of our houses singing karaoke and having a good time.

Me and my best friend singing " Your my best friend" by Queen :D

For this post I'll be writing a movie I recently saw titled " One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" released in 1975 and based off the novel by Ken Kesey. A brief summary: Jack Nicholson plays Randle Patrick Murphy, a prisoner. who is sent to a mental institution to be evaluated due his involvement in fights at jail. Murphy shows no signs mental illness, and they suspect he wanted to go to pass the time in the mental institution instead of jail.

Here is the trailer! :

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is considered by many an American Classic and it won five Academy Awards. I didn't know of its popularity when I decided to watch it, I chose to watch it because of Jack Nicholson, gotta love him he is such an outstanding actor! This movie is no exception for him, he was perfect for the role and really delivered. His character is definitely a difficult person; he is causes a mess, he is violent and has little regard for rules and authority. Yet, he is one of the few people who sees the patients in the hospital as more than "crazy" people and works to bring the morale up in the men. He also makes it his mission to make the staff's job impossible, picking up fights and rebelling against Nurse Ratched's strict rules. Murphy's active and optimistic personality really contrast against the sterile and depressing environment.
I think one of the most important things about the story is that it shows how mental institutions back in the day caused more harm than good to the patients, and more importantly how a healthy person can be diagnosed "crazy" and be hidden away in a mental institution.It definitely had me looking at psychiatry more cautiously. While I thought Murphy did great showing us the negative aspects of a mental institution, I felt that with everything going on, one didn't really get to connect with him and he remained a character that wasn't that likable. I don't want to say much else as I don't want to spoil anything, but I will say that I enjoyed the movie and I recommend it! Let me also recommend " Girl Interrupted" to people who liked this movie, I thought that was another excellent movie concerning mental institutions.

Rating: 4 stars!

I hope you all enjoyed this post :) and of course let me know what are your thoughts on this movie!

ROTFLMAO Wow... I am planning to see this movie today because I heard of it from one of my favorite movie reviewers by his top 30 favorite movie list. This just pushed me to really watch it even more since now I heard it from 2 of my favorite movie reviewers. :P

I'll make sure to post my thoughts later tonight or tomorrow. But as for metal institutions, I gotta say I've dealt with a few in modern times (Actually in recent years) and even seen how they are run to an extent and even stayed a day at one, though as a guest not a patient. I gotta tell you they aren't really much better especially when the patients are criminals too. Another reason why I think psychology is BS but whatever. Once I see the movie I'll expand upon it. Anyway thanks Mabel you definitely made me even feel better about watching this.

About Me

Hi there, I'm Mabel, 21 year old college student. Currently in the process of getting a major in nursing. I graduate in a year and 4 months and I'm uncertain of what the future will hold but I'm excited regardless.